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IU’s Tevin Coleman to enter NFL draft

Indiana
Published 5:35 p.m. ET Dec. 29, 2014

Tevin Coleman is off to the NFL after record-setting numbers in Bloomington.(Photo: Rob Goebel / The Star)

As expected, running back Tevin Coleman has decided to skip his senior season at Indiana University and go pro.

The news was first reported Monday by ESPN’s Joe Schad.

Coleman’s father, Wister, confirmed that his son is entering the NFL draft.

“It has been a dream for him,” the father said. “Based on his accomplishments this past season, he made a decision that he wants to go into the draft and fulfill that dream.”

“I am and always will be proud to be a Hoosier,” Tevin Coleman said in a statement released by IU.

The consensus first-team All-American and Doak Walker Award finalist rushed for 2,036 yards this season, becoming the 18th player in Division I history to reach 2,000 yards.

ESPN’s Scouts Inc. ranks Coleman as the NFL draft’s No. 3 running back, behind Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon and Georgia’s Todd Gurley. However, few analysts expect him to be selected in the first round and some project him to be available in the third or fourth rounds.

Wister Coleman said Tevin has selected an agent, Adisa Bakari.

Coleman became Indiana’s first All-Big Ten player since 2010 and set school records for yards in a season, yards per carry in a season (7.5) and career (7.1). He finished seventh in voting for the Heisman Trophy.

Indiana is hoping to replace one marquee running back with another.

The Hoosiers have been pursuing UAB’s Jordan Howard, who rushed for 1,587 yards this year. UAB has dropped its football program, so players there may transfer elsewhere and be eligible immediately. Howard has posted on Twitter that he is deciding between Indiana and Vanderbilt, and he said Monday he plans to make a decision this week.

Call Star reporter David Woods at (317) 444-6195. Follow him on Twitter at @DavidWoods007.